Bench Pts

Mount St. Mary's (8-12, 3-6 NEC) built a 13-point lead with 13 minutes remaining and held off a Quinnipiac rally to earn the victory. The Mount scored six consecutive points to take its biggest lead of the game, 56-43. Rashad Whack keyed the run, hitting a three-pointer and a free throw before making a steal, and kicking the ball ahead to Kelvin Parker for a breakaway slam that gave the Mount the 13-point lead.

The Bobcats kept chipping away at the Mount advantage, cutting the deficit to 68-67 on a Zaid Hearst drive with 2:45 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, the Mount got a pair of offensive rebounds before Julian Norfleet drained a clutch three-pointer with 1:20 left that gave the Mount a 71-67 lead.

Quinnipiac's Ousmane Drame countered with a lay-up, but Whack hit 1-of-2 at the line to push the Mount ahead, 72-69. Hearst then missed a three-pointer with 49 seconds left, but Drame got the offensive board. Drame, however, threw the ball away to give the Mount possession.

Whack was fouled with 31 seconds left and calmly hit both free throws for a 74-69 lead, but Quinnipiac's Dave Johnson answered with a three-pointer with 17.9 seconds on the clock to cut the Mount advantage to two points.

The Mount turned the ball over on the inbounds, and Quinnipiac's Ike Azotam was fouled with 11.9 seconds left. Azotam hit 1-of-2 at the line to cut the Mount lead to 74-73. Wiggins was then fouled with 4.7 seconds left and he hit the first of two shots for a two-point lead. Wiggins missed the second free throw, but Sam Prescott came up with the rebound and was fouled. Prescott then hit both charity tosses with 2.3 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Wiggins was 10-for-11 at the foul line en route to his team-high 17 points for the Mountaineers. The freshman is averaging 14.6 points over his past five games. Whack and Norfleet added 13 points each in the win with Prescott chipping in 11 points off the bench.

Quinnipiac held a 50-26 advantage on the boards in the game. The Mount countered that with a +14 turnover margin, committing just five turnovers while forcing 15 in the contest.

In the opening half, the Mount used a 12-to-2 run to take a 17-to-8 lead eight minutes into the game. The Mountaineers led by as many as 12 points in the opening half before going to the locker room with a 37-29 lead.

Mount St. Mary's returns to action on Saturday, February 2, against Sacred Heart. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. at Knott Arena.

Game Notes: The Mount takes a 14-13 lead in the all-time series with the win...Mount St. Mary's has won the past seven matchups between the two teams at Knott Arena...The game featured 53 fouls and a combined 68 free throw attempts...The Mount was 25-for-36 at the line, setting season highs for both free throws made and attempted in a game this year.